Day: April 30, 2025

The future of Giannis Antetokounmpo with the Milwaukee Bucks will hit an inflection point this offseason as they face the prospect of a challenging 25-26 season without Damian Lillard. What Antetokounmpo is thinking at this time has been difficult for insiders to gauge as both he and his camp have focused on having their intention solely on the Bucks.

“There has been zero speculation about Giannis and his future,” said Brian Windhorst on NBA Today on Wednesday. “He’s worked very hard and so has his representation to shut down anything. He has been completely focused on the Bucks. So therefore this is basically a bit of a mystery. It might be a mystery within the organization a little bit. It’s definitely a mystery for other teams out there. Whether he would want to get moved and who would potentially be on a list of interested teams.

“Which means this is going to be one of the biggest things hanging over the NBA offseason. And other players, potentially even star players who might end up on the trade market might have to wait themselves to see how Giannis’ situation plays out because teams are going to see him as the biggest fish.”

Antetokounmpo will meet with the Bucks in the coming days or weeks to discuss his future with the franchise. This has been the type of conversation the sides typically have at the conclusion of the season.

Antetokounmpo and the Bucks most recently signed a three-year, $186 million extension in October 2023 following their trade for Damian Lillard. Antetokounmpo has a player option for the 2027 offseason. Antetokounmpo also signed his supermax during the 2020 offseason after the Bucks acquired Jrue Holiday and they went on to win a title.

The Houston Rockets have informed rival front offices that second-year forward Amen Thompson is untouchable in potential trade discussions despite the team’s interest in acquiring a star player, sources told ESPN. Thompson, the No. 4 pick in the 2023 NBA draft, finished fifth in Defensive Player of the Year voting this season.

Thompson’s scoring average jumped from 9.5 points as a rookie to 14.1 points in his sophomore campaign. His defensive prowess and offensive improvement have solidified his status as a cornerstone piece for Houston’s rebuilding efforts. Thompson was ranked 17th on Bill Simmons’ Trade Value list as recently as late January.

Team executives internally compare the 6-foot-7 Thompson’s ceiling to Russell Westbrook in his prime, despite Thompson’s developing jump shot. The organization has not yet fully deployed him as a lead ball-handler but remains open to expanding his role.

Thompson demonstrated his clutch potential in January against the Boston Celtics when Ime Udoka entrusted him with the final possession. Thompson beat Jaylen Brown in isolation to hit the game-winning floater, capping a 33-point performance.

Rockets general manager Rafael Stone expressed confidence in Thompson’s rapid development trajectory.

“He’s already become a really good NBA player,” Stone said. “He should be much, much better than this year next year, and that should go on for the foreseeable future. Great kid, works really hard, is really smart. Everything we’ve asked him to do, he’s done. He’s done it quickly and at times shockingly easily.”

“There’s no question in my mind that there are multiple guys on this roster now who can potentially be the best player on a championship team, given their age,” Patrick Fertitta told ESPN late in the regular season. “You don’t see guys at this age be that person yet, but I have a lot of confidence that one of these guys, if not a few of them, can become that.”